Chesapeake Area Professional Captains Association
We are a professional organization for Coast Guard-licensed captains who operate primarily on the Chesapeake Bay and the East Coast of the United States.
Although our captains' licenses range from small passenger vessels to oceangoing ships, the bulk of our members operate boats of 100 tons or less—such as tourboats, water-taxis, towboats, and charterboats. Some also work as instructors and delivery captains for transporting recreational boats between ports.
Hire a Captain
Looking for a Coast Guard-licensed captain to serve as an operator or a crewmember for your vessel? We have many and they're ready to serve you. With one free request, you can reach all of our members.
Maritime Classes
CAPCA offers an array of maritime-oriented classes that are open to the public, from marine electricity and radar operation to medical emergencies at sea and basic offshore safety and survival.
CAPCA also offers some members-only classes, such as U.S. Coast Guard-approved classes for renewing your captain's license and for refreshing your first-aid/CPR certification.
To see a preliminary list of courses for the upcoming year before they are open for registration, click READ MORE.
To see the current course offerings that are open for registration, click CLASSES in the main menu.
Join CAPCA
Do you have a current U.S. Coast Guard captain's license or USCG Document of Continuity? If so, we invite you to join us. You don’t have to be working as a captain or crew member to join CAPCA. A valid license or a Document of Continuity and being interested in maritime issues is all we require
ATTEND A MEETING
Join us at our monthly meetings where you can meet our captains, find out more about CAPCA, and hear interesting guest speakers.
Why earn a captain's license?
- use your boat to carry passengers for hire
- enjoy a discount on marine insurance for your boat
- required for many full- or part-time maritime jobs
- acquire a comprehensive knowledge of navigation and rules of the road
Click here to read a description of the process for earning a captain's license.
CAPCA Speakers Bureau
Need a speaker for your yacht club or professional organization? Ask one of our Coast Guard-licensed captains.
After you submit the form, our speaker’s bureau coordinator will get back to you soon.
Our members have a wealth of experience—on the water and in classrooms—that gives them the knowledge and background to provide guest-speaker presentations on a host of maritime-related topics, from seamanship and navigation to radio operation and basic first aid for boaters. Let us know a topic that interests you, and we’ll take it from there.
CAPCA provides this as a public service to the maritime community. There's no speaking fee or charge.